Unisphere

[[File:Unisphere Africa 6212-001.jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Close-up of the Unisphere, with a steel landmass representing Africa|Close-up of [[Africa]]]]

[[File:Unisphere Africa 6212-001.jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Close-up of the Unisphere, with a steel landmass representing Africa|Close-up of [[Africa]]]]

Arne Abramowitz became administrator of Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in 1986 and soon began planning a renovation of the park.{{Cite news|last=Rivera|first=Elaine|date=December 30, 1986|title=New Park Chief Building a Career in Open Spaces|pages=21|work=Newsday|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217784/new-park-chief-building-a-career-in/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161020/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217784/new-park-chief-building-a-career-in/|url-status=live}} The following year, the [[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]] (NYC Parks) announced an $80 million rehabilitation of the park.{{Cite news|last=Anderson|first=Susan Heller|date=November 19, 1987|title=Park in Queens to Get $80 Million Restoration|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/19/nyregion/park-in-queens-to-get-80-million-restoration.html|access-date=July 26, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161015/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/19/nyregion/park-in-queens-to-get-80-million-restoration.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Neugebauer|first=William|date=September 20, 1987|title=It may be the jewel in city park crown|pages=318, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216838/flushing-meadows/ 319]|work=New York Daily News|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216761/it-may-be-the-jewel-in-city-park-crown/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161007/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216761/it-may-be-the-jewel-in-city-park-crown/|url-status=live}} The renovation had been planned since the early 1980s but had been deferred due to a lack of funding. By this time, the city was shutting off the Unisphere's fountains during festivals to prevent people from wading into them.{{Cite news|last=Polsky|first=Carol|date=August 9, 1988|title=Flushing Meadows Stuck in Park|pages=9, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216396/queens-park-lurches-forward/ 24]|work=Newsday|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216298/flushing-meadows-stuck-in-park/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161010/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216298/flushing-meadows-stuck-in-park/|url-status=live}} The restoration called for new mechanical systems, lighting, retaining walls, benches, paving, and trees to be installed in Unisphere Plaza at a cost of between $5.7 and $5.9 million. A second phase would landscape the surrounding grounds for $40 million.

Arne Abramowitz became administrator of Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in 1986 and soon began planning a renovation of the park.{{Cite news|last=Rivera|first=Elaine|date=December 30, 1986|title=New Park Chief Building a Career in Open Spaces|pages=21|work=Newsday|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217784/new-park-chief-building-a-career-in/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161020/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217784/new-park-chief-building-a-career-in/|url-status=live}} The following year, the [[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]] (NYC Parks) announced an $80 million rehabilitation of the park.{{Cite news|last=Anderson|first=Susan Heller|date=November 19, 1987|title=Park in Queens to Get $80 Million Restoration|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/19/nyregion/park-in-queens-to-get-80-million-restoration.html|access-date=July 26, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161015/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/19/nyregion/park-in-queens-to-get-80-million-restoration.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Neugebauer|first=William|date=September 20, 1987|title=It may be the jewel in city park crown|pages=318, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216838/flushing-meadows/ 319]|work=New York Daily News|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216761/it-may-be-the-jewel-in-city-park-crown/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161007/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216761/it-may-be-the-jewel-in-city-park-crown/|url-status=live}} The renovation had been planned since the early 1980s but had been deferred due to a lack of funding. By this time, the city was shutting off the Unisphere's fountains during festivals to prevent people from wading into them.{{Cite news|last=Polsky|first=Carol|date=August 9, 1988|title=Flushing Meadows Stuck in Park|pages=9, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216396/queens-park-lurches-forward/ 24]|work=Newsday|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216298/flushing-meadows-stuck-in-park/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161010/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82216298/flushing-meadows-stuck-in-park/|url-status=live}} The restoration called for new mechanical systems, lighting, retaining walls, benches, paving, and trees to be installed in Unisphere Plaza at a cost of between $5.7 and $5.9 million. A second phase would landscape the surrounding grounds for $40 million. By 1989, a NYC Parks official observed that landmasses of countries like India and Vietnam would be lifted from their mountings on particularly windy days.

In 1989, a NYC Parks official observed that landmasses of countries like India and Vietnam would be lifted from their mountings on particularly windy days.

The grounds around the Unisphere were landscaped in 1992,{{Cite news|last=Newkirk|first=Pamela|date=May 17, 1992|title=Overdue facelift for park in works|pages=207, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217132/ 216], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217226/ 217]|work=Newsday|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217067/overdue-facelift-for-park-in-works/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161013/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217067/overdue-facelift-for-park-in-works/|url-status=live}} but the renovation of the Unisphere itself was delayed due to a lack of money.{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Ray|date=October 27, 1991|title=World's Fair-est Park? Flushing Meadows soon to have new face|pages=202, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82218112/flushing-meadows-restoration/ 203]|work=Newsday|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217977/worlds-fair-est-park-flushing-meadows/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161015/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217977/worlds-fair-est-park-flushing-meadows/|url-status=live}} Preservationists objected when some of the trees around the Unisphere, dating to the 1964 World's Fair, were removed and replaced with trees that were easier to maintain.{{Cite news|last=Serant|first=Claire|date=August 22, 1991|title=Felled park trees trigger outrage|pages=383|work=New York Daily News|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82218779/felled-park-trees-trigger-outrage/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161008/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82218779/felled-park-trees-trigger-outrage/|url-status=live}} The restoration of the Unisphere, which began in 1993, included numerous structural repairs and removal of grime accumulation on the steel. The fountains were replaced and new floodlighting was installed.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38447214/|title=Let us spray for Unisphere|last=Huang|first=Vivian|date=June 1, 1994|work=New York Daily News|access-date=November 4, 2019|page=293|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123222859/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38447214/let-us-spray-for-unisphere/|url-status=live}}{{harvnb|ps=.|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1995|page=5}} Furthermore, two of the surrounding lawns were planted with rose gardens.{{Cite news|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/02/arts/summer-s-last-hurrah-the-final-fling-before-the-fall-recircling-the-globe.html|title=Summer's Last Hurrah: The Final Fling Before the Fall; Recircling the Globe|last=Muschamp|first=Herbert|author-link=Herbert Muschamp|date=September 2, 1994|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 4, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019233411/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/02/arts/summer-s-last-hurrah-the-final-fling-before-the-fall-recircling-the-globe.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=October 10, 1991|title=Unisphere Shaping Up for New Look|pages=35|work=Newsday|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82195297/unisphere-shaping-up-for-new-look/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023506/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82195297/unisphere-shaping-up-for-new-look/|url-status=live}} As part of the park-wide renovation, the entrance of the [[Queens Museum]], to the west, was relocated so it faced the Unisphere directly, rather than in the opposite direction.{{Cite news|date=December 11, 1994|title=New/Old Entry for the Queens Museum; Once Again, Face to Face With the Unisphere|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/11/realestate/new-old-entry-for-the-queens-museum-once-again-face-to-face-with-the-unisphere.html|access-date=July 26, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161017/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/11/realestate/new-old-entry-for-the-queens-museum-once-again-face-to-face-with-the-unisphere.html|url-status=live}}{{harvnb|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|ps=.|p=1312}} The restoration was completed in May 1994. Architectural critic [[Herbert Muschamp]] wrote that, while "nothing can compensate for the loss of context around this metallic centerpiece", the globe had started to gleam "with something like its former high spirits". That year, the Annual Building Awards in Queens gave the Unisphere an award for best rehabilitation.{{Cite news|last=Belluck|first=Pam|author-link=Pam Belluck|date=October 11, 1995|title=Queens Beauty Contest: Basic Brick Is Beautiful|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/11/nyregion/queens-beauty-contest-basic-brick-is-beautiful.html|access-date=November 4, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308144718/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/11/nyregion/queens-beauty-contest-basic-brick-is-beautiful.html|url-status=live}}

The grounds around the Unisphere were landscaped in 1992,{{Cite news|last=Newkirk|first=Pamela|date=May 17, 1992|title=Overdue facelift for park in works|pages=207, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217132/ 216], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217226/ 217]|work=Newsday|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217067/overdue-facelift-for-park-in-works/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161013/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217067/overdue-facelift-for-park-in-works/|url-status=live}} but the renovation of the Unisphere itself was delayed due to a lack of money.{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Ray|date=October 27, 1991|title=World's Fair-est Park? Flushing Meadows soon to have new face|pages=202, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82218112/flushing-meadows-restoration/ 203]|work=Newsday|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217977/worlds-fair-est-park-flushing-meadows/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161015/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82217977/worlds-fair-est-park-flushing-meadows/|url-status=live}} Preservationists objected when some of the trees around the Unisphere, dating to the 1964 World's Fair, were removed and replaced with trees that were easier to maintain.{{Cite news|last=Serant|first=Claire|date=August 22, 1991|title=Felled park trees trigger outrage|pages=383|work=New York Daily News|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82218779/felled-park-trees-trigger-outrage/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161008/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82218779/felled-park-trees-trigger-outrage/|url-status=live}} The restoration of the Unisphere, which began in 1993, included numerous structural repairs and removal of grime accumulation on the steel. The fountains were replaced and new floodlighting was installed.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38447214/|title=Let us spray for Unisphere|last=Huang|first=Vivian|date=June 1, 1994|work=New York Daily News|access-date=November 4, 2019|page=293|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123222859/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38447214/let-us-spray-for-unisphere/|url-status=live}}{{harvnb|ps=.|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1995|page=5}} Furthermore, two of the surrounding lawns were planted with rose gardens.{{Cite news|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/02/arts/summer-s-last-hurrah-the-final-fling-before-the-fall-recircling-the-globe.html|title=Summer's Last Hurrah: The Final Fling Before the Fall; Recircling the Globe|last=Muschamp|first=Herbert|author-link=Herbert Muschamp|date=September 2, 1994|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 4, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019233411/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/02/arts/summer-s-last-hurrah-the-final-fling-before-the-fall-recircling-the-globe.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=October 10, 1991|title=Unisphere Shaping Up for New Look|pages=35|work=Newsday|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82195297/unisphere-shaping-up-for-new-look/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023506/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82195297/unisphere-shaping-up-for-new-look/|url-status=live}} As part of the park-wide renovation, the entrance of the [[Queens Museum]], to the west, was relocated so it faced the Unisphere directly, rather than in the opposite direction.{{Cite news|date=December 11, 1994|title=New/Old Entry for the Queens Museum; Once Again, Face to Face With the Unisphere|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/11/realestate/new-old-entry-for-the-queens-museum-once-again-face-to-face-with-the-unisphere.html|access-date=July 26, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726161017/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/11/realestate/new-old-entry-for-the-queens-museum-once-again-face-to-face-with-the-unisphere.html|url-status=live}}{{harvnb|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|ps=.|p=1312}} The restoration was completed in May 1994. Architectural critic [[Herbert Muschamp]] wrote that, while "nothing can compensate for the loss of context around this metallic centerpiece", the globe had started to gleam "with something like its former high spirits". That year, the Annual Building Awards in Queens gave the Unisphere an award for best rehabilitation.{{Cite news|last=Belluck|first=Pam|author-link=Pam Belluck|date=October 11, 1995|title=Queens Beauty Contest: Basic Brick Is Beautiful|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/11/nyregion/queens-beauty-contest-basic-brick-is-beautiful.html|access-date=November 4, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308144718/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/11/nyregion/queens-beauty-contest-basic-brick-is-beautiful.html|url-status=live}}